USING ICT IN ENHANCING TEACHING/ LEARNING AND MANAGING
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
In this 21st century, the term “technology” is an important issue in many fields including
education. This is because technology has become the knowledge transfer highway in most
countries. Technology integration nowadays has gone through innovations and transformed our
societies that has totally changed the way people think, work and live (Grabe, 2007). As part
of this, Universities and other educational institutions which are supposed to prepare students
to live in “a knowledge society” need to consider ICT integration in their curriculum
(Ghavifekr, Afshari & Amla Salleh, 2012).
Universities use a diverse set of ICT tools to communicate, create, disseminate, store, and
manage information which is acceptable to all stakeholders. In some contexts, ICT has also
become integral to the teaching-learning interaction, through such approaches as replacing
chalkboards, whiteboard with interactive digital whiteboards, using students’ own smartphones
or other devices for learning during class time, and the “flipped classroom” model where
students watch lectures at home on the computer and use classroom time for more interactive
exercises.
When teachers are digitally literate and trained to use ICT, these approaches can lead to higher
order thinking skills, provide creative and individualized options for students to express their
understandings, and leave students better prepared to deal with ongoing technological change
in society and the workplace
Architectural Framework of ICT-Enabled Education (Teaching/Learning) Environment
It requires an array of systematically collaborated entities to create an environment where ICTenabled teaching/learning can be possible. These entities are essential and inter-dependent on
one successful delivery of teaching essentials. The arrangements of these entities to create a
working environment that empowers the teacher to develop and deliver lectures to establish
successful teaching/learning facilitation between teacher and students is known as the
architectural framework for ICT-enabled education (teaching/learning).
The following Figure describes the basic architectural framework of ICT-enabled education
(teaching/learning)
ICT has removed geographical barriers, and teachers’ containment within specified classrooms
has changed to open teaching. In addition, ICT has helped society by facilitating the type of
education called “education on wheels” or “mobility in education.” Therefore, the Ugandan
Universities should explore the importance of ICT and its inclusion in academics to surge the
boundaries of traditional education for more productive outcomes with greater levels of
accessibility and better student engagement. Since there is a growing population in ICT world
wide, The Universities should look a way of combining both, physical and Electronic Teaching
and Learning to increase Student enrollments as they subscribe to RENU services which
enables educational sites to be accessed on 0 rate access for both students and teachers for
smooth learning and interaction.
Mr. Olivier Uwiragiye
IT MANAGER
ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY